BhubaneshwarAugust 23, 2025 05:54 PM IST First published on: Aug 23, 2025 at 05:54 PM ISTShareMore than a year after his exit from active politics, bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Pandian’s recent appearances along with Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik have again fuelled the speculation about his role in the party.In a video shared by the BJD Thursday, Patnaik was seen holding Pandian’s hand while leaving a hospital in Bhubaneswar. This is their first public appearance since the BJD’s debacle in the 2024 Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Odisha.AdvertisementA day later, Pandian was seen with Naveen Patnaik and his elder brother Prem Patnaik at this hospital again, discussing with a team of doctors about the treatment of the former Odisha chief minister who has been recovering after a spinal surgery last month.Sources close to Pandian said the videos were deliberately made public to send a message that the Tamil Nadu-born former IAS officer continues to be Patnaik’s close confidant and wields “considerable clout” in Patnaik’s inner circle.“It is a message to the critics that he will always be around whenever it comes to Naveen Patnaik’s health concerns. Patnaik is 78 and a bachelor. It is beyond any political calculations. The video also shows the bond shared by Patnaik and Pandian, who has been with him for the past 14 years,” said a source close to Pandian.AdvertisementPandian was also with Patnaik throughout his surgery process at a private hospital in Mumbai in June this year.Asked whether the public appearance after a year is a signal of Pandian’spossible return to BJD politics, the source said it was “up to him (Pandian) and the decision of Naveen Patnaik”.BJD insiders said Pandian might be shying away from engaging in day-to-day affairs of the party but admitted that “his role still remains key to its decision-making”.Even as Pandian’s reappearance has caused a flutter in a section of the BJD, several party leaders have openly supported him.“It is Naveen babu’s decision on who he wants around him as he recovers. Why are there so many discussions on this? You criticise him (Pandian) for his non-Odia identity. Those who are in power now (state BJP leadership) are going to Delhi frequently to take orders from their bosses. Are they Odia?” said senior BJD leader Pramila Mallik.Former minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said Pandian and his wife Sujata Karthikeyan, also a former IAS officer, took care of Patnaik like they were his “own son and daughter”.“Naveen babu is our leader and Pandian takes care of him. There is no politics in this. People should not read too much into it,” said Nayak.Though it is not clear whether Pandian would make a comeback, BJD sources said an influential group of leaders within the party has begun garnering support for his return.Having enjoyed considerable power and authority during the tenure of the Patnaik governmet, Pandian faced stiff resistance within the BJD after the party was ousted from power by the BJP last year after 24 years.The Tamil officer, who was serving as private secretary to Patnaik since 2011, resigned from the IAS in October 2023 to join the party. He was at the forefront of the BJD’s election campaign and also played a key role in the selection of its candidates for the 2024 polls.most readHis Tamil origin and his growing clout in the administration gave the BJP ammunition to target the BJD. A majority of the veteran BJD leaders held Pandian responsible for the party’s rout even though Patnaik always backed him.In April this year, when the BJD changed its stance on the Waqf amendment legislation, turning non-committal at the last moment after deciding to oppose it, a few senior party leaders blamed Pandian.Amid growing pressure from within the BJD, Patnaik reconstituted its powerful Political Affairs Committee (PAC) after two decades. A majority of the 10-member PAC are however known Pandian loyalists, which has also created disquiet among several party leaders.